“Did Vera tell you I was okay with it?”

“Well, you signed the parental consent form, didn’t you?”

I glared at Cody, searching for an explanation. Secret boyfriend. Tattoo. Forgery. What else had Vera hidden from me? And when had she gotten so clever to get away with it? Cody’s gaze darted away and he shook his head to deflect my anger anywhere but on him.

Now was not the time to suspect how Vera had deceived me. The bigger issue was what had become of my obedient daughter. Who was she when she walked out our door for the last time, and who had helped create her? Because someone was behind this. And I had a feeling I knew who.

“No, I didn’t sign anything. Who took you girls?”

“Some lady friend of Vera’s.”

“Do you remember her name or where Vera met her?”

“Sorry, I don’t remember. It was, like, a while ago.”

I couldn’t believe this. Vera had friends of legal age, old enough to drive them to get a tattoo and then sign legal consent. This was more than I could bear. There was too much I didn’t know about my sweet girl, revealing just how severely I had failed as her mother.

Again my phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen, wondering what could possibly be so important that they needed to call three times in as many minutes.

Oliver.

He could wait.

I just needed one more thing.

“Do you happen to have Austin’s address? Or his parents’ names?”

“Uhhh…well, last I heard he was living in a group home. Something about him getting in a fight with his stepdad.”

So he was violent too. Great choice of boyfriend, Vera.

“I’d still like to swing by to see if I can track him down.”

“Sure. I don’t remember his street address, but I can give you directions for how to get there. He only lives a few minutes from here.”

I pulled out my phone and typed the directions as Blythe rattled them off, then thanked her on my way out the door.

“Mrs. Portman?” Blythe’s voice stopped me as I stepped off the front porch. I turned around to see not Goth Girl, but a teary-eyed child missing her best friend. She sniffled, swiped at a tear rolling down her cheek. “I know you believe Vera’s out there, alive. Like I do. But why do you think she hasn’t come back yet?”

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Hopefully what you’ve told me can help me find her. I hope you feel better, Blythe.”

Blythe watched as Cody and I walked to the car. As we were pulling out of the driveway I waved. She waved back.

A little ways down the road I felt Cody’s gaze locked on me.

“What?” I said, stealing a glance.